Shuttle binder and mounting therefor



y 1955 s. o. DODGE SHUTTLE BINDER AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9, 1953 QM AM Skeflmobd (Aruba,-

United States Patent 2,707,974 SHUTTLE BINDER AND MDUNTING THEREFOR Sherwood 0. Dodge, Medford, Mass., assignor to Livermore Corporation, Allston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application January 9, 1953, Serial No. 330,396

9 Claims. (Cl. 139-185) This invention relates to the binders employed in the shuttle boxes of automatic looms to position the shuttle in proper alignment with the transfer mechanism of the magazine, and also with the picker, and further to assist in checking the flight of the shuttle upon its arrival in the shuttle box. In common practice the binder is mounted upon a vertical pivot located at its outward end, while its inward end is pressed into the shuttle box strongly but yieldingly by the finger of the protector mechanism, so as to exert a braking force on the sides of the shuttle through contact of the shuttle sides respectively with the leatherclad working surface of the binder and the opposing inward surface of the shuttle box as the shuttle enters between such surfaces. To attain maximum contact and frictional grip on the side wall of the shuttle, the major portion of the working face of the binder is made straight, Y

with only the portion nearest the shuttle box mouth inclined slightly away from the shuttle to aid in guiding the latter into the box. However, differences in shuttle width both as initially manufactured and as a result of wear of the shuttles makes it impossible to attain a truly parallel relation and the desired full-length contact between the shuttle and he straight portion of the binders face when the binder is mounted on a fixed pivot. This results in defective shuttle control both in checking and in positioning the shuttle.

With the aim of overcoming this fault, resort has been had in certain instances to the so-called floating binder construction in which the binder is no longer pivoted, but is mounted with capacity for movement at both its ends transversely of the shuttle box. The means employed for thus mounting the binder has been to replace the vertical pivot by a cap screw threaded into and fixed in the shuttle box end and extending horizontally through a small hole in the outward end of the binder, usually in the binder stop which is the bracket or similar member applied to the binder whereby it is mounted in the shuttle box. The loose fit of such cap screw within its hole in the binder stop not only permits the necessary pivoting of the binder as its inward end is crowded forward by the entering shuttle, but also allows the outward end to be displaced frontwardly by the entering shuttle and rearwardly by the action of the shuttle pressure finger into exact parallel and with full-length contact with the side of the shuttle.

While this arrangement initially attains good shuttle control, the necessary loose fit of the mounting screw in the hole of the binder stop allows the binder to rock about its longitudinal axis, so that its working face tilts'inward into the shuttle box at top or bottom causing corresponding tilt of the shuttle with resulting harmful wear of both parts and with attendant lack of proper shuttle control both in entering and leaving the box. The mounting hole and the cap screw therein are also prone to wear rapidly, thereby increasing the initial undesirable endwise movement of the binder with reduction in the efiiciency of the binders action. Attempts to improve the construction by mounting a sleeve in the hole in the binder stop in the effort to increase the bearing surface in contact with the ice cap screw have given only temporary relief, because of the excessive play which must be left between the cap screw and such sleeve for the required pivoting movement.

It is the aim of the invention in general to attain more perfect and lasting shuttle control and consequent reduction of wear on the shuttle and other parts of the shuttle picking and checking motions, with resultant better weaving and increased production, and in particular to overcome the faults of the existing types of floating binder mountings. To these ends, the invention provides a shuttle binder mounting or support which selectively articulates the outward end of the binder so as to confine the movement of such end to a straight travel transversely into and outward of the shuttle box and a swing about a vertical pivot. In the preferred embodiment this is done by mounting the binder to swing about a vertical axis defined by a pivot mounted for movement transversely of the lay and shuttle box and disposed at right angles to a guide extending transversely of the shuttle box and lay, such pivot being mounted for movement along the guide and being spring-biased in a direction forcing the binder into the shuttle box. Such means not only prevents tilting and endwise motion of the binder through permitting close and accurate fit of the bearings with standard clearance such as to eliminate all play, but also enables the bearings to be made of ample extent and proper materials for long wear.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner of their attainment, are as set forth hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the binder and its mounting shown in perspective' Fig. 2 is a plan view of the outward end of such binder, showing the manner of mounting it on the shuttle box end.

The shuttle binder of the drawing is of the familiar type comprising a metal body 1 of which the major portion 3 is of straight extent while the end 5 thereof which is to be located near the shuttle box mouth is offset frontwardly of the loom to receive the contact of the protector finger 6 which works the protector motion and also supplies a part of the yielding inward pressure forcing the binder into the shuttle box to position and check the shuttle. The part '7 of the length of the binder adjoining the two parallel portions is as usual obliquely disposed. The usual friction surfacing 9 of leather is adherently aflixed to a wood filler strip 11 attached by bolts 13.

The surface of filler piece 11 supporting the friction surfacing 9 is formed in two obliquely related planes, of which the one nearer the end portion 5 presents the friction surfacing so as to engage the shoulder of the shuttle to guide it into the box while the other plane presents the friction surfacing to the side of the shuttle to perform the shuttle positioning and checking functions.

In accordance with the invention, a binder stop 15 is provided which has two integral vertically spaced lugs 17 extending obliquely outward and forward of the loom from its outer end. This binder stop is affixed to the binder by means of two of the bolts 13 which pass through the metallic portion 3 and the wood filler piece 11. The lugs 17 are provided with aligned holes 19.

A hinge member or swivel 21 is provided which comprises two integrally formed hubs 23, 25, having their axes disposed at right-angle and offset relation to each other. Hub 23 is fitted closely but freely between the opposing surfaces of the two lugs 17, and receives within its axial passage the shank of a headed pin 27 press-fitted in the holes 19 of the two lugs and fitted rotatably within hub 23 with conventional bearing clearances.

The other hub 25 of hinge member 21 has its axial passage 29 fitted closely but slidably upon guide means comprised by the full-diameter portion 32 of a shouldered stud 31, the reduced and threaded portion 34 of which is fixed by nut 36 in a hole 33 formed therefor in the metal shuttle box end 35 forming a regular part of the shuttle box and fixed on the lay. A spring 37 is confined between the frontward end of hub 25 and the head 39 of stud 31, to take the place of the usual leaf spring used in the form which has a vertical pivot. When the invention is used to replace the floating binder described, the spring 37 is omitted, since the shuttle pressure finger necessarily provided in this form supplies the needed inward pressure against this end of the binder at the moment of checking. Such pressure finger either engages the binder stop directly or bears against an applied and renewable wear plate aifixed to the binder.

Thus contrived, the outward end of the novel binder is free to pivot upon pin 27 as the shuttle engages the inclined portion 10 of the working surface of the binder, forcing the inward end 5 of the binder frontwardly against the resistance of the protector finger 6 which bears against portion 5. Then as the shuttle proceeds into the shuttle box the outward end of the binder moves frontwardly with between the rear face of hub 25 and the surface 12 of the friction material 9 is made such that the space between the adjacent end of the binder and the opposing Wall of the shuttle box is less than the shuttle width, assuring this desired true parallel conformation and braking contact over the entire available area of surface 12. As is obvious, the improved mounting prevents the rocking of the binder abou its longitudinal axis which results in tilting of its working face and uneven wear of the shuttle and binder surfacing with ensuing improper boxing and picking, as well as avoiding the endwise movement which also impairs alignment of the shuttle with the parts involved in the bobbin transfer during automatic replenishment of the filling.

The type of binder stop 15 shown herewith is designed to be applied to the binders already in use in existing looms, as a replacement for the prior floating mounting means described. Where the whole binder is to be replaced, the lugs 17 for pivot pin 27 are formed integrally with the body 3 of the binder, and a special stop plate is screwed onto the body and thus is replaceable after wear.

The increased areas of the bearings and proper fit thereof attained by the invention with elimination of all lost motion and play therein assure long and trouble-free life of the mounting parts. A cotter pin 41 may be put through a hole in the protruding bottom end of pin 27 if desired as insurance against escape of the pin in case of eventual wear and loosening of the latter in lugs 17.

While I have illustrated and described a certain form in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the 14' invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but what I do claim is:

1. In combination, a shuttle box, a shuttle binder, hinge means pivotalty mounting the binder on the shuttle box, and means mounting the hinge means for movement with respect to the shuttle box in directions solely transversely of the shuttle box.

2. In combination, a shuttle box, a shuttle binder, and hinge means mounting the binder on the shuttle box with capacity for movement pivotally and transversely with respect to the shuttle box and preventing endwise movement of the binder.

3. In combination, a shuttle box, a shuttle binder, a vertical pivot upon which the binder is mounted, and means supporting such pivot for movement solely transversely of the shuttle box.

4. In combination, a shuttle box, a shuttle binder, a vertical pivot fixed on one of such parts, and means mounting the binder on the pivot for swinging movement about the axis thereof and providing limited movement of the binder and its pivot transversely of the shuttle box.

5. In combination, a shuttle box, a shuttle binder, guide means on the shuttle box, binder mounting means supported by the guide means with capacity for movement solely transversely of the shuttle box, and means connecting the binder with the mounting means providing for relative rotation about a vertical axis.

6. In combination, a shuttle box, a shuttle binder, a pivot on the binder disposed in substantially vertical relation and movable with respect to the shuttle box, a member rotatably mounted on such pivot, and guide means on the shuttle box mounting such member with capacity for movement solely at right angles to the shuttle box.

7. In combination, a shuttle box, a shuttle binder, guide means fixed on the shuttle box and extending transversely thereof, a member slidably mounted for movement along such guide means, a pivot travelling with such member connecting the binder to such member, and a spring urging the member toward the shuttle box.

8. In combination, a shuttle box, a shuttle binder, a stud fixed on and extending transversely from the shuttle box, a member having a hub slidably mounted on such stud and a second hub disposed in offset and right-angle relation to the first, and a pivot carried by the binder extending through the second hub.

9. The combination according to claim 8 in which a spring on the stud urges the member toward the shuttle box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,130 Northrop Oct. 18, 1910 1,265,015 Wheaten May 7, 1918 1,556,231 Livermore Oct. 6, 1925 1,585,539 Demers May 18, 1926 2,341,843 Hamilton Feb. 15, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 583,528 Germany Sept. 5, 1933 

